The Zion Dov Ber Torah Fund

What led her to do this? Experiences as a young religious girl growing up in Jerusalem with her connections and dedication to Yeshiva Meah Shearim where her brother David had studied as a child. When the rabbi at the yeshiva told her to not forget the Yeshiva this had a great impact on her. She also possessed great passion and initiative.

And then she experienced the death of her son Berel.. all this led her to start raising funds for Yeshiva Meah Shearim.

Esther Leibowitz started the Zion Dov Ber Torah Fund organization in 1927. The organization was named after Berel (Dov Ber) - Esther and Isaac's son who died at the age of 7, possibly in 1925 or 1926.

She headed the Zion Dov Ber Torah Fund organization for 60+ years, and the fundraising and advocacy work of the Zion Dov Ber Torah Fund greatly contributed to the expansion of the facilities at the Yeshiva in many ways: including building the new building Yeshiva Bochurim, and purchasing vans. The funding from her organization helped with major repairs at the Yeshiva, possibly the building of a new dormitory and dining room, and help with the soup kitchen. the 1980's they had also supplied two additional Sefer Torahs and additional sforim (books) for the library. This helped hundreds of Yeshiva students who studied there. Hundreds of children, many of them orphans, were provided with all their needs.

800 children (and probably more) receive a Torah education at the Yeshiva Meah Shearim. At Yeshiva Bachurim, there are 100 older students, together with an expanded Kollel body. There could be more students today. There was (and may still be) a Free Kitchen and support provided for the aged rabbis that sit and learn at the Yeshiva.

The following quote is from an article by Jerry Lisker published in the 1970's in The Jewish Press:
"... Mrs. Leibowitz's Zion Dov Ber Torah Fund has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the orphaned and homeless children of Jerusalem. "For many children, the yeshiva is the only home they know", Mrs. Leibowitz said. "It is where they live and learn the traditions of Judaism. Many have gone on to be scholars and students." ... With funds she has raised, the yeshiva has grown. Monies are used to provide additions to the structure, for the purchase of teaching and medical materials and for buses, food and religious articles. Each child also receives a gift each year at Chanukah."

If you donated money, as I did at times, you could hear your name announced on the radio.

After 1949 Esther visited Israel almost every year, bringing to the Yeshiva money raised from her fundraising work in the US for the Zion Dov Ber Torah Fund. On return to the US she'd bring back news and experiences of the Yeshiva that she would speak about on her WEVD weekly radio programs. As she got older, she'd go less frequently, more like every 2 or 3 years.

Esther Leibowitz organized yearly banquets and bazaars to raise money. The banquets were usually held once a year in March, with live music, and appetizers on trays would be served as well as a full meal. Esther Feigel would speak about the Yeshiva, and there'd also be a guest of honor who would speak.

As listed in the Annual Souvenir Journal from the 54th Anniversary Dinner, in 1980 the program aired on Tuesdays at 9:15 AM.

There were also luncheons organized by the Zion Dov Ber Torah Fund. Below is an invite to a sendoff luncheon for Hyman Segal before his visit to Israel. He was married to Chayna Tzerel, Esther's sister.

In the back of her office on Troy Avenue in Brooklyn, all sorts of second-hand and new goods were stored and would be sold at the next fundraising bazaar. I remember going to one as a child, and I think it was during one of the blackouts in New York City.

Possibly a photo of the office on Troy Avenue.

She continued to work tirelessly year after year until the time when she could barely walk to the office but with her walker but walked there anyway, up to her death at 92 in 1988.